Author: tigerandtim.com@gmail.com

The Art Critique is here to enlighten everyone on the importance of art in a child’s development. Creativity and other essential skills can be developed by producing arts and crafts, drawings, and paintings. Here’s how Tiger and Tim learning videos can encourage it.

Well, hello boys and girls, it’s me, the mustachioed wonder, THE ART CRITIQUE from Tiger and Tim online learning videos for kids! Tiger invited me over to his blog so I can share my expertise and wisdom about art to all our grown-up readers out there. Much to Tim’s delight, of course (Hello Dear Tim)!

As you can tell, art is something I am very passionate about. I BREATHE art, I am not called The Art Critique for nothing! So I would like to talk about the importance of making art to all Tiger Cubs. You see, Mums, Dads, Aunts, Uncles, Grandpas, and Grandmas, art is not just about making a big mess on the kitchen table or doodling on the pristine white walls of the house – art, for children’s development, is essential. You may not see it now, but you might just be raising the next Picasso! Our educational videos for toddlers and older kids (where I am prominently featured *ahem*) can further encourage love and appreciation for the arts!

I now have my trusty monocle on so let’s talk about art, for art’s sake! 

Developmental Benefits of Art

Aside from developing Tiger Cubs’ creativity, art also helps in many other developmental milestones.

Motor Skills

Making art would typically include gripping the paintbrush or crayon, which would greatly help with a toddler’s fine motor skills. When doing craft projects, kids could also make use of child-safety scissors, which can help develop their dexterity. All these fine motor skill exercises are necessary in many different ways and, most importantly, in learning how to write.

Language and Communication

If you know me from our educational videos for kids, you know that I LOVE talking about art, art, and more art, which is why doing arts and crafts can significantly help with a Tiger Cub’s language and communication skills.

Being immersed in making art can enrich a young one’s vocabulary – from distinguishing the different colours to talking about their work using descriptive words, as I do! Arts and crafts activities can also help children learn about different shapes and even actions words.

Critical Thinking Skills

Making art allows children to explore, to test out what works, and what does not. As they create, they explore different possibilities and work out the problems – all these decisions hone their critical thinking skills. So art not only makes Tiger Cubs creative, but smarter, too!

Social-Emotional Skills

Social-emotional development refers to a child’s expression of his or her experiences and how they manage thir emotions. Art itself is self-expression in its purest form, and it can help children express a wide range of their very colourful emotions, especially when their vocabulary is still emerging.

Apart from helping Tiger Cubs express their emotions, they can also learn to tell how they feel about others. This is what I do in my segment of our educational learning videos for kids, since the children learn to show appreciation for others’ artworks and value other Cubs’ effort to create their masterpiece! Creating paintings and other works of art with others also helps children understand the importance of sharing and taking turns.

How to Foster Creativity at Home

As you have seen in Tiger and Tim online learning videos for kids, you know that I am a true master of the arts! You can also help your Tiger Cubs develop an artistic eye (monocle not necessary)!

Let your Tiger Cubs’ inner ARTISTE shine through by fostering art in your own home! Here’s how parents and grown-ups can do it:

1. Embrace the mess – it may be a headache now, but the mess is actually a good sign that your little one’s mind is hard at work! To help you keep the clutter to a minimum, set up an art station in your house, and have a drop cloth or old newspapers handy. If the weather permits, you can have the children paint outdoors, too!
2. Be an audience, not a director – avoid giving Tiger Cubs directions when they are creating something, especially if it’s free-form. Instead of being a director, be an encouraging and supportive audience instead, and let your child’s masterpiece come to life!
3. Talk about art – once your child’s artwork is done, let them express how they feel about it! Talk about what they created, the colours they used, and even how they made the piece. This will enrich their vocabulary and develop their communication skills so they can grow up to be master art appreciators, like me!

Encouraging Creativity with Tiger and Tim Educational Videos For Toddlers

Learning videos for kids, like Tiger and Tim, can inspire young minds to create their own artworks! Tiger and Tim episodes always feature me in “Picture This”, where I share artworks of Tiger Cubs all over the world! 

The children can be inspired by me and our episode’s theme to create their own masterpiece. Our latest episode is all about food, so watching it can also inspire them to reach for a snack!

Grown-ups can also encourage the little ones to share their ideas on the different works of art featured in my Art Gallery. Doing so will not only develop children’s communication skills, but adults can also guide them in exploring their emotions.

So what are you waiting for? Start creating those fantastic works of art and send us a photo of it through this link. I will be waiting for your fabulous masterpieces!

Want to know more about how Tiger and Tim can help with your child’s development? Read our other blog posts here.

Best wishes, from your very favourite Art Critique!

language is one of the essential skills Tiger Cubs should start developing from a young age. Here’s how TigerandTim can help with that!

If there’s one thing Tim loves to do (a lot), it’s TALKING! It’s a good thing he’s not bad at it, otherwise, we couldn’t make Tiger and Tim learning videos for kids! I am a little too shy to talk on the show yet…

Whilst I never learned to roar like most tigers in the wild (sadly), Tiger Cubs learn to communicate with grown-ups pretty easily. Mums, Dads, and other adults at home can take advantage of their Tiger Cubs’ natural tendency to pick up a language in different ways. Playing and reading together, watching free educational videos for kids online, or merely allotting time for conversation can help with a child’s language development and communication skills.

How Parents Can Help with Developing Communication Skills

A Tiger Cub’s brain is like a sponge – they can absorb information quickly from the moment they are born until they are in their adolescent years. They need to be exposed to any language at an early age, as this serves as a good start in developing their language skills. 

From the moment they are born, babies communicate with their parents and other grown-ups – from crying, giggles, gurgles, and other gestures. By the time they turn about a year old, babies also learn how to use their bodies to communicate. Pointing using their finger is considered a communication milestone because it’s an opportunity for Cubs to get people to notice something that he or she saw. Just like how I communicate with Tim when I’m hungry!

As Tiger Cubs grow older, of course, they also build their vocabulary and learn how to use words in a conversation. The more they talk and communicate with others, the better their language development becomes. Watching adults or older siblings at home talking to one other, AND being exposed to online learning videos for kids, can serve as a learning guide for children to be more effective communicators.

There are many other different ways grown-ups can foster young Cubs’ natural tendency to communicate. Here are some of our ROAR-SOME suggestions:

Talk Time

Having interactive conversations is PURR-FECT in developing communication and language skills. In a conversation, grown-ups can model grammar and syntax rules, as well as turn-taking. You can also serve as a guide on how to pronounce unfamiliar words.

Communicating with your Tiger Cubs is simple! You can start by talking about the books you read together or the online educational videos for kids they love to watch. You can also talk about the day’s activities or things that you enjoy doing together. They don’t have to respond to you all the time. Sometimes, their responses may not even be related to the topic of the conversation. That’s okay! You can feed off of their answers to keep the conversation going.

Three Strikes

Toddlers need to be exposed to a particular word several times before they can effectively include it in their vocabulary. One way grown-ups can help is through repetition. You can repeat a word three times in succession in different sentences and contexts.

“Look at that red car!”

“That is Daddy’s car.”

“Do you want to ride in the car with me to the park?”

This way, kids can notice and retain the new word more effectively.

Develop Language and Communication Skills with Tiger and Tim Learning Videos!

Watching learning videos is a TIGER-RIFFIC way to develop communication skills!

Our show is an excellent resource for fostering a Tiger Cubs’ acquisition of language! Tiger and Tim learning videos are highly interactive, stimulating a child’s language and communication development. 

Tiger and Tim episode segments, like Storytime with Tiger and Tim, Quiz Corner, Picture This, and Your Tigers are great conversation springboards for grown-ups and kids. Our Joke Shop can also help Tiger Cubs get creative with their words and teach them all about the English language’s different nuances. Meanwhile, Tiger’s Tongue Twisters develop their pronunciation and enunciation of English words. The best part of this is that children learn ALL of these things without them even realizing it! Clever, isn’t it?

Furthermore, other online videos for toddlers, such as action songs, like ‘Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes’, can help Tiger Cubs associate the word with a particular noun and action. Gestures are considered communication, too! And who can say no to some singing and dancing? You know I can’t!

Every one of us has an innate need to communicate with others (even Tigers!). Being effective communicators in the future will not only be useful for Tiger Cubs in school, but it can also help develop their character and be a good little Tiger, like me!

Read more about how Tiger and Tim can help with your childrens development here.

Nowadays, going to school means going online. Here’s how parents  can help their kids to navigate distance learning through educational videos and other tips!

Children love educational learning videos, and they also love going back to school! But school is looking a little bit different this year…

 

This school year brings in something new to most of us. It is not what many Tiger Cubs are used to. It also comes with its own set of challenges. But distance learning has its TIGER-RIFFIC perks, too! You may not realise it now, but with your little ones home most of the time this year so far (and for many, in the months ahead too), this is the PURR-FECT opportunity for them to build on their family life with you and their siblings (and their own tigers/pets, too!). 

The new normal can be tough, but there are several ways parents can help their learners at home adjust to distance learning and make the road smoother and more fun! 

From watching educational videos for children to breaking out into an impromptu concert performance (my favourite thing to do in the shower!), parents can make the experience more memorable for their kids. 

 

Here are some of the ROAR-SOME ways to help your preschoolers (and older kids) with distance learning:

 

1. Create a routine

Your Cubs’ day in school is highly-structured, and you can do the same thing at home. A routine can significantly help young learners feel less anxious about the entire situation. In comparison, older kids can work to a more relaxed schedule. 

For your preschoolers, you can create a timetable showing the specific activities that need to be done throughout the day. Go ahead and use colourful pictures, crayons, stickers, and stamps to mark which activities are finished. By keeping track of their schedule, they also feel accomplished! 

2. Start the day with F-U-N!

Speaking of activities, teachers recommend that young Tiger Cubs start an e-class with something fun to perk up their energy and keep them motivated. You can do some light stretching and exercise. There are a lot of fun videos for children online used for physical activities, that you can choose from. If exercising is not your thing, you can try singing and dancing to your favourite tunes to get those positive vibes coming! Not only will a fun start to the day help your Cubs be ready for the day, but it can also do wonders for your mood and disposition.

 

3. Set up a study space

The environment that you create for your Tiger Cubs makes a big difference, so setting up their workstation in a conducive area is very important.

 

The dedicated workspace doesn’t have to be grand (no matter what Pinterest tells you). As long as the space is clean, comfortable, and well-lit and ventilated properly, then it’s the right work area for your little one. Make sure that all toys are kept so that the kids will not be tempted to play. Noise level at home needs to be as minimal as possible, too, since the children may be watching educational learning videos, and the noise can be distracting.

 

4. Keep in touch with the teachers

First of, TEACHERS ARE PAW-SOME for everything that they do for their students.

 

Teachers have always been parents’ partners when it comes to their children’s education. But distance learning made this partnership much more significant. Frequent communication is essential to let teachers know how your Cubs are faring at home. You can also ask for help with things that may be unclear, or how to manage activities. Most teachers are more than happy to extend their helping paws to parents!

5. Let go of perfect expectations

Parents have expectations for their kids, and sometimes, Mums and Dads forget that their Tiger Cubs are still learning new things. Therefore, not everything will be done correctly at the first try – and that’s okay!

Letting go of the idea of perfection allows Tiger Cubs to fully experience learning – from committing mistakes to learning from them. But it doesn’t mean that parents should not follow the expectations or standards set by the school. Mums and Dads can help their young kids achieve their learning goals through scaffolding, or taking one little step at a time.

 

Make Learning Exciting with Tiger and Tim’s Fun Educational Videos!

Whether today’s lesson is about the planets or jungle animals, education can be supplemented through fun and interactive learning videos for kids – like Tiger and Tim!

Tiger and Tim episodes are great resources to complement the lessons from school. We have Story time, arts and crafts, exciting facts, and fun tongue twisters! Children are acquiring skills and gaining new knowledge without them realizing it. Making learning fun – that is what Tiger and Tim is all about.

 

Distance learning during the new normal may not be the ideal way to learn. However, learning can take place anywhere – may it be in school or at home! After all, parents will always be Tiger Cubs’ first teachers.

 

Lots of Love, as always, Tiger xoxoxoxoxo 

 

Click here for more of Tiger’s blogs for parents and cubs!

Kids nowadays are digital natives, and one way to help with their language development is through watching good quality educational videos, like TigerAndTim!

Learning While Having Fun

I love learning and exploring new things, just like all Tiger Cubs! One fun  way parents can help cultivate your own cubs’ natural curiosity and love for learning is through watching educational videos at home.

Not a lot of parents realise that viewing is a skill. But it is considered as a language skill, because it will greatly help with your Tiger Cubs’ language development. Most educational videos (like Tiger and Tim!) make viewing more interactive and exciting , so your Tiger Cubs are learning A LOT without them even realising it! So it’s definitely a win-win for Tiger Cubs and parents!

Read on to find out how you can make the most out of learning through viewing below!

Viewing as a Skill

We are all too familiar with the four macro skills – reading, writing, listening and speaking. But language researchers believe that there is a fifth macro skill, one that resonates with the times: That skill is none other than viewing!

Viewing as a language skill is defined as the process of understanding visual texts that come in various formats, such as TV shows, advertisements, films, videos, and images. In short, viewing is the act of ‘reading’ visual cues. So it’s like reading a book while looking at pictures, animations, and listening to accompanying sounds!

When it comes to acquiring and developing language understanding, it makes sense that viewing is considered valuable, especially nowadays. Online video-sharing platforms have also made audio-visual, multi-sensory texts even more available for children. With so many schools and families opting to do distance and online classes this school year because of the global pandemic, the role of learning through videos for kids plays a significant role in their language development.

Make the most out of viewing

Parents often dismiss viewing as an essential skill, thinking that most of the videos for kids are only meant for entertainment purposes. However, when using age-appropriate learning videos,  viewing can aid in various aspects of a child’s language development. 

Videos are purr-fect tools to learn English or any other language. Furthermore, viewing is an TIGER-RIFFIC way to develop children’s literacy as learning English through stories – that combine pictures and sounds – is considered more exciting and stimulating for your ever-so curious cubs!

One way to make the most out of viewing is to ensure that you choose learning videos for kids that are of good quality. Not all learning videos are created equal, and young learners are not yet able to accurately discern which ones are good for them. Therefore, Tiger Cubs would need their cool parents and educators to watch these videos and their children and students to ensure that learning actually does occur. And wouldn’t it be more fun to watch videos together?

Try asking your kids simple comprehension questions after watching a video, such as “Who are the characters in the story?” or “Where did the story take place?” to gauge whether they understood the material or not. It could also help them be more engaged in the story and fosters bonding between you and your Tiger Cubs.

Tiger and Tim Learning Videos

Stories infused with animation are sure fire hits for young children. These learning videos for toddlers and even for older kids not only entertain them, but they can also help build language skills such as comprehension and vocabulary.

Tiger and Tim episodes come with the Storytime segment, wherein a fun and creative story is presented with vivid graphics and animation. Storytime’s unique stories are targeted at preschool-aged kids and above, but older children (and even adults!) also find them enjoyable. It’s my most favourite part of the show. Well, the ENTIRE show is actually my favourite!

After the story, you should ask simple comprehension questions to check for understanding, and words that may not be familiar to them. You may then proceed to talk about what they liked about the story or what they might have found interesting in the video. As parents, you are very much encouraged to share your own insights with your Tiger Cubs, to make way for some nice casual conversation over snacks. (Okay, so snacks are not really necessary, but are very much welcome!).

Viewing, when used correctly, is an effective way to aid children’s language development. Parents can use learning videos readily available online to nurture the literacy, curiosity, and creativity of their young learners at home. So make the most out of screen time with Tiger and Tim!